LPG shortage sparks surge in firewood demand in Kerala

The worsening Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict has triggered a sudden surge in demand for firewood, with sawmills and plywood factories reporting a flood of inquiries despite rising prices.

LPG and oil crisis LIVE: LPG shortage sparks surge in firewood demand in Kerala

With the supply of commercial cylinders nearly drying up — forcing the closure of more than 100 hotels in Kochi alone — those still operating have pared down menus and working hours while exploring alternative fuel sources. Samridhi@Kochi, a budget eatery chain run jointly by the Kochi Corporation and Kudumbashree Mission, switched to firewood on Friday (March 13, 2026) after exhausting its last reserve of LPG cylinders.

“We require up to 1.5 tonnes of firewood at our central kitchen, costing around ₹6,000 including transportation. Cooking is also considerably slower compared to LPG,” said sources at Samridhi. Going by the feedback from the ground, at least a section of domestic consumers are looking for firewood as a possible cover in case LPG crisis worsens.

Deepak Patel, who runs a sawmill in Thoppumpady, said he has been inundated with inquiries though he continues to supply only one full load to a long-time dealer. “We are primarily engaged in supplying timber for furniture and not in the firewood trade. Still, I am receiving five or six inquiries a day,” he said.

The tonnage price of firewood has already risen by ₹500 and may climb further if the LPG crisis worsens. Firewood, once available for less than ₹3,000 a tonne, was largely confined to industrial boilers, considering the ubiquitous LPG connections in the State, besides being sold as woodchips to factories in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Hameed Shah, who has supplied five tonnes of firewood to Samridhi from his Thrissur sawmill, noted that plywood factories are facing labour shortages as migrant workers from Assam and Odisha have returned home for electoral roll revision. “With demand surging, tree-cutting workers may also hike wages, which could push prices further. Residents near plywood factories are already arriving in small vehicles to collect firewood,” he said.

Mujeeb Rahman, president of the Sawmill Owners and Plywood Manufacturers Association, however, maintained that availability would not be an issue. “Every Malayali household has at least two cylinders, so there is no reason for panic. Even if demand rises, we can meet it by restricting supply to industries,” he said.